Ready for a glimpse of Molly and the Minotaur? Read the first chapter below!

Chapter One – Molly

Molly, you live in a fairytale. 

I’ve heard some form of this for most of my life. 

My father said it to me as I sat beside my mother, holding her hand and begging him and the doctors to do absolutely everything and anything to bring her back as she took her last breaths. 

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” he said as he stroked my hair and then kissed the top of my head. “We don’t live in a fairytale. Nothing can save your mommy.” 

The bullies in high school said it when I fell for their cruel trick. They made me believe the cutest boy in my class, Devon, was interested in me, the tall, awkward girl with unruly red hair and a face full of freckles. They laughed as they watched him humiliate me on a Friday afternoon, right before Homecoming. 

“The only way he’d date you is if we lived in a fairytale,” one of them sneered as I stood in the hallway with tears streaming down my cheeks. 

When I was fired from my job at the bookstore, my boss said I couldn’t spend my time living in fairytales because I needed to actually help customers. He didn’t particularly like it when I told him I believed reading was the most important part of my job. 

“Molly, you live in a fairytale,” the woman who’s been screwing my soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend scoffs as I stand crying at the foot of our bed, in the bedroom we shared for the past month. 

How does she even know my name when I don’t know hers? 

My boyfriend, Hal, doesn’t even acknowledge me. Coward. 

They both watch me as I grab my duffel bag from the closet and pack my meager belongings. I moved in with Hal a month ago to save money after I was fired. I sold most of my stuff to pay bills until I found a new job. Now it seems I’ll have to find a new place to live as well. So long savings. 

Everyone is wrong; I don’t live in a fairytale. I live in a nightmare. 

“Molly, wait,” Hal calls out right before I reach the front door. 

I turn, stupidly hopeful he’ll change his mind and beg me to stay, and watch as he stumbles out of the bed, picks up his baggy, blue-striped boxers, and covers his nakedness. His body is so pale it practically glows in the dim light of the apartment. 

It’s as though I’m seeing him for the first time. He’s tall and lanky, with a patchy beard that grows mainly along his jawline but doesn’t quite reach his cheeks. He never shaves it off, which always annoyed me. Did I really find this man attractive? 

“I need your key,” he says. “To the apartment.” 

I dig into my pocket, pull out my keys, and remove the one for his apartment. The petty part of me wants to throw it across the room but I don’t. Instead, I shuffle back to the scratched kitchen table and set it down. I look up at him, but his face is turned away. 

I don’t say anything else because there’s nothing more to be said between us. Break-ups are awkward enough, but walking in on your boyfriend pile-driving a tiny blonde woman makes it even worse. 

The minute I step outside onto the sidewalk, it starts raining and a manic laugh escapes my lips. Everything seems so comically awful right now. I keep laughing as I walk toward my car, head low. I’m sure I look like a total psycho, but I don’t care. 

I toss my bag into the passenger seat, start the engine, and pull out onto the street. I have no destination in mind, only the desire to put as many miles as possible between me and this horrible town. 

Ding!

I stare at the dashboard and hiss. “Shit.” I never bothered to check how much gas I had because I was more worried with leaving. I’ve only been on the road for an hour but being this close to not only the state line but also to the Appalachian Mountains, anxiety flutters in my belly. 

My father used to tell me stories about the Appalachian Mountains, about the monsters in the shadows who call your name, or the monsters with glowing red eyes. I always thought his stories were meant to keep me from wandering off during one of our many hikes. His stories swim through my thoughts when I pass the sign for the next exit. Minos Falls. Underneath the reflective green sign are the customary signs advertising food, lodging, and gas. 

I definitely need gas, but a snack wouldn’t hurt either because it would give me a little time to come up with a plan. I have no idea where I’m headed. 

When the exit finally appears, I take it and follow the signs indicating the gas station is to the right. The road into town is dark, and immediately every horror movie I’ve ever watched flashes through my mind.  

“Don’t pick up any hitchhikers and you won’t get murdered,” I murmur as my eyes scan the road for anyone or anything that might jump out. 

The first real sign of life is a bright blue neon sign for the Minos Falls Inn. It seems out of place against the quiet, shadowy town. There isn’t a single car on the road except mine, and other than the inn’s sign, the only light comes from streetlights illuminating the empty main street and the darkened buildings on either side. 

Nerves make my skin prickle as I steer into the parking lot. I’m no longer worried about being murdered. Instead, I worry about being kidnapped and forced to join some weird mountain sex cult. 

My heart beats wildly as I step out of my car, keys clutched between my fingers just in case. Everything looks different in the light of day, and right now, I regret leaving in such a hurry. Such an idiotic move, especially considering my father always preached having a plan. He never went on a hike or a research trip without thoroughly investigating where he was going and considering every likely scenario he might encounter. 

The woman behind the check-in desk has a snow-white blunt bob and gives me the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. She’s quiet as she stares at me, her eyes blinking as her gaze travels the length of my body. 

“I’ve been expecting you.” 

What in the actual horror movie hell? 

“Umm . . . you have?” I back up closer to the door, ready to bolt if this lady takes even the tiniest step toward me. 

She shakes her head slightly and something changes in her expression. It’s less . . . creepy, more normal. “Of course. I saw your car on the road and figured you were lost. And since the inn is the only place in town that’s open, well, I figured you’d stop here.” 

“I’m not technically lost. I just need to know where the nearest gas station is,” I tell her. “Is it much farther?” 

“Just down the street and around the corner. Do you need a room for the night?” Her sudden eagerness sends up red flags again. This inn is probably a front for human trafficking. 

I shake my head. “No, ma’am. I’m just passing through.” I certainly do not want to stay a minute longer in this place than necessary. 

“Well, that’s a shame. Minos Falls is lovely this time of year, and our harvest festival is this weekend. Are you sure you can’t stay?” 

“I don’t think so,” I say with a shake of my head, though my first thought is to wonder what they could possibly be harvesting. Probably bodies. 

“We have plenty of rooms available.” I glance back out toward the barren parking lot. “Whatever is troubling you, hon, won’t be fixed with a fuzzy head. My daddy used to say a good night’s sleep and a brand-new day will solve just about any problem.” 

I turn back sharply to face her. “How do you know something’s troubling me?” 

Her head tilts to one side. “You just have that look, like you’re running from something.” 

The hair on the back of my neck stands up. Holy shit! Can this woman read minds? “Today hasn’t been my favorite day, but it also hasn’t been the worst. Tomorrow will be better.”

I have no idea why I’m still talking to this woman, or why I’m still standing here. I should be smart, get back in my car and head back toward the highway. Surely there’s enough gas in my tiny sedan to get me to the next exit. 

But breaking down on the side of the road, in the middle of Appalachia, is equally terrifying. So, my choice is between staying and possibly being sold into slavery or leaving and possibly breaking down where I might get eaten by one of the monsters that allegedly live in the mountains. 

I glance back at the woman, my gaze landing on the name tag pinned to her blue cardigan. Deb. Such a normal name, but then again, don’t all serial killers have normal names? 

“No sense in traveling this late.” 

Despite the warning bells going off in my head, I find myself agreeing. Stopping for the night couldn’t hurt. It’s not as if I have anywhere to be and sadly, no one will notice if I go missing. Still, it would be foolish to spend money I need to use toward rent, gas, and food.

“I really shouldn’t stay. I don’t have much money, or even a job.” 

She places her hands on her ample hips and asks, “Well, what kind of job are you looking for?” 

“Honestly, I don’t know. My last job was at a bookstore.” 

“We have one of those! It’s called The Lore Store, and the owner, Mr. Angelos, is looking for someone to work evenings. I can introduce you tomorrow morning.” 

I know I should be skeptical. Thirty seconds ago, I was worried about this nice lady murdering me or possibly trafficking me to the cartels. Now she’s offering to help me find a job. This sounds too good to be true. Something is definitely up with this place, but whatever it is, it’s made me too damn curious. 

“Sounds perfect except I don’t have anywhere to live.” 

“I can take care of that!” Deb reaches under the countertop and pulls out a book covered in blue leather. “Would you prefer a room with a creek view or mountain view?” 

“Creek,” I say automatically because honestly, I’m stunned. Nothing in my life ever happens easily, and it seems impossible that on one of the worst days of my life, an angel named Deb is giving me hope. 

She turns around and consults a pegboard with colorful keychains hanging from it. 

“Perfect!” Deb announces as she picks a keyring off a hook and faces me with a glowing smile. “By the way, we only have one type of room. Creek view. Now, will you need one bed or . . .two?” 

The way she’s looking makes me wonder if this is a trick question. “One.” 

And then her smile is back before she hands over the key to my new home for the next however many days.  I reach into my bag and pull out my wallet. “Do you need my credit card?” 

Deb blinks and her smile falters a bit as if she’s confused. “For what?” 

I shrug. “Incidentals? To make sure I can actually pay you?” 

“Bless your heart,” she tells me, and for once in my life, I think she might actually mean it. “All I need you to do is fill out the guest book and you’re good to go. Stop in at the end of the week after Mr. Angelos hires you and we’ll sort out payment.” 

I take the pen she offers me and write down my name, the make and model of my car, and my phone number. “Pretty confident he’ll hire me?” 

“Of course I am,” she assures me with a pat on my hand. “I’ve known Mr. Angelos for years. In fact, I’ll put in a good word for you tomorrow morning when I see him at the temple.” 

Temple? Dear Lord, please don’t let these people lure me into a sex cult or sacrifice me in some kind of ritual. Deb seems really nice, and honestly, I could use a break. I do not want the wild conspiracy theories running around my thoughts to actually be true.  

“Why would you do that? You hardly know me.” I’ve been through a lot of shit recently, and despite the obvious red flags, everything inside me tells me to trust this woman, that she genuinely wants to help me. She seems more like a loving mother than a serial killer. 

“It’s what we do here in Minos Falls. Help each other. It’s what makes this town thrive.” 

Tears unexpectedly sting my eyes before burning their way down my cheeks. It’s a delayed reaction. I wanted to cry when I walked in on Hal, but I didn’t because seeing my tears seemed like a reward. He didn’t deserve them. But now I can’t help it. 

“Thank you for being so nice to me,” I blubber as Deb hurries around the desk and envelops me in a body-crushing hug. 

“Hush dear,” she says, stroking her hand along my hair like my mother once did. “Minos Falls is like one big happy family, you’ll see soon enough, and we’re always eager to add another member.” 

She releases her surprisingly strong hold on me and reaches over to the desk for my key. “Go and get settled. Get a good night’s rest, and in the morning, breakfast will be ready for you right here in the lobby. Then I’ll take you to meet Mr. Angelos.” 

I leave the lobby, tears still trickling down my cheeks, and move my car so it’s parked closer to my room. The Minos Falls Inn is a single-story brick building with the brightly lit front office closest to the street. There seem to be a dozen or so rooms, each with a large window facing the parking lot. 

I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life and thought I knew the names of most of the tiny town scattered throughout the state. Why haven’t I ever heard of Minos Falls before? I mean, I’ve been to Bear Grass, Grandfather Village, and even Love Valley. Exploring small towns in my home state is kind of my jam, which is why it’s so surprising I haven’t stumbled upon this sleepy little town. 

Maybe tomorrow I’ll check the ancient state map in my glove compartment. I’m sure it’s listed there. 

Once my car is parked, I grab my bag and walk up to the door of my temporary home. I sigh as I stick the key into the lock, twisting it until I hear an echoing click. 

Home. Family. I haven’t had these things in a while. After my mother died, my father became distant. He spent more time going on research trips and days-long hikes than he did at home, until one day, he never came back. The police found his car on the side of the road but there was no sign of him. 

And now, according to Deb, I’ve got an entire town waiting to welcome me with open arms. It seems too good to be true, but I’ve spent a lifetime believing in fairytales, hoping for the best when I should have been preparing for the worst. Even if Deb is wrong, I know there’s more to life than the way I’ve been living it. Starting tomorrow, I, Molly Durand, solemnly swear to pay attention to life’s little red flags.